The conflict concerning the new ATIB-mosque in Bad Vöslau

Mosque Conflicts which we know from several countries in the European Union are a relatively new phenomenon in Austria. They start with the conflict concerning the construction of a minaret for a already existing prayer hall in Telfs (Tyrol) in autumn 2005 by the local branch of ATIB. This conflict is followed by others concerning planned mosques or even the fear that a mosque will be built in the neighbourhood, in different federal states of Austria like Kärnten (Spital an der Drau), Vorarlberg (Bludenz) and Wien (Brigittenau). Normally construction projects of one of the biggest Muslim organisations in Austria are concerned, namely of the "Turkish-Islamic Union for cultural and social cooperation" (ATIB = Avusturya Türk Islam Birligi), which is controlled by the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Turkey (Diyanet). The research project focuses on the case of a particular Mosque conflict concerning the construction of a new mosque in the city of Bad Vöslau (Lower Austria) by the local ATIB-branch which applied for it end of 2006 and is presently under construction. It is the only mosque in Austria, which is currently under construction. The different motives, positions and perspectives of relevant social stakeholders in the conflict should become visible by methods of qualitative social research, especially problem-centered interviews and by evaluation of the reporting about the conflict in the media on the local, regional and national level since the end of 2006. By analysing this focus, current social developments concerning the increasing ethno-religious pluralism in Austria, especially the presence of the Muslim minority should become more visible. In contrast to approaches which interpret mosque conflicts within the framework of a model of the "clash of civilizations", the study wants to highlight the historical, social, political, economic and psychological factors of these conflicts. Additionally, the study wants to contribute to the empirical research on Islam in Austria, by viewing the case of Bad Vöslau in the context of the present developments in Austria concerning Mosque projects and its institutional background.

The construction of the new mosque in Bad Vöslau (Lower Austria) has a historical significance: It is the second representative, purpose-built mosque in Austria (after the Vienna Islamic Centre, 1979), and the first construction of a new mosque by an organization of the former migrants from turkey (guestworker) in Austria. In the public debate the compromise regarding the architectural form of the new mosque the strong restriction of its visibility as a mosque - was seen as a model for dealing with conflicts over mosque constructions. The results of the empirical study (2009-2012) offer a more differentiated picture. The description of the conflict and its main protagonists is based on 45 qualitative interviews with representatives of the mosque association (ATIB Bad Vöslau) and the umbrella organization ATIB Union, of the city government and of the local Arbeitsgemeinschaft Europäischer Kultur (AEK, Working Group European Culture) which was formed against the mosque construction project. The study could unsheathe important aspects of the conflict so far unknown in the public. The interviews allowed to reconstruct the main lines of the mediation process which was undertaken under asymmetrical conditions. The study could find out the composition of the AEK which acted anonymously: Mainly representatives of the local and regional Freedom Party Austria (FPÖ) together with members of a free church with evangelical orientation (Ichthys-Congregation, Wiener Neustadt) formed a coalition against the mosque construction project. In this way the analysis of the conflict demonstrates the relevance of a genuine religious factor the radical hostility towards Islam out of fundamentalist Christian attitudes in the context of other, political factors and motives. In this respect there exist parallels between the case of Bad Vöslau and the minaret-initiative in Switzerland where an evangelical organization worked together with the Swiss Peoples Party (SVP). Another surprising result of the study was the finding that the first architectural draft by the architect provided by the ATIB Union showed a contemporary mosque architecture which was dismissed by the local mosque association. The case of the construction of the new mosque in Bad Vöslau illustrates the tensions which surround the institutionalization of Islam in Austria - irrespective from the special legal status of the Islamic Communities in Austria. It represents the clear tendency to constrain the visibility of Islamic buildings within public space as much as possible and to enforce an assimilative politics towards Muslims. The mainstream of the public debate has depicted the mosque construction as a wise compromise; from an ethical, normative point of view it can be seen as the refusal of the basic right of religious freedom.